Icing of or the application of cream or the like to biscuits



1940- R. F. MACFARLANE ET AL 2,189,214

ICING OF OR THE APPLICATION OF CREAM OR THE LIKE TO BISCUITS Filed Dec. 8, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 6, 194 R. F. MACFARLANE ET AL 2,189,214

ICING OF OR THE APPLICATION OF CREAM OR THE LIKE TO BISCUITS Filed Dec. 8, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented 6;, 1940 wine or on THE APPLICATION. oF CREAM on THE LIKE TO: BISCUITS Robert French Macfarlaneyosterley, and William:

Edward Prescott, Peterborough, England.

Application December 8, 1937, Serial No. 178;796

In Great BritainDecember 10, 1936 '1 Claim.

This invention relates to the icing of, or the application of cream or the like to, biscuits; of the character in which the biscuits are provided with a layer or stencil of cream or the like, or wherein the cream is sandwiched between two. biscuits, andan object of the invention is to provide an improvedtype' of machine'in' which the layer of cream or the like has imparted thereto the desired shape and is automatically applied to or laid upon the biscuits in a reliable manner. v

The invention consists in a machine for applying layers of creamorthe like to biscuits comprising a rotatable cylinder or drum having a peripheral series of stencil apertures adapted to be filled with cream delivered into the drum through an end thereof, a travelling band or web lappedagainst the exterior surface of the drum to receive layers of cream from the apertures and convey them to a depositing position for deposit upon travelling biscuits.

The invention alsoconsists in a machine for applying layers of cream or the like to biscuits comprising arotatable cylinder or drum having a peripheral series of stencil apertures adapted to be filled with cream delivered into the drum through an end thereof, and a travelling band or web having, a lap engaging the lower part of the drum to form a closure for the apertures as they reach their lower position and toreceive layers of cream from the apertures for deposit upon travelling biscuits. I i l The invention further consists in a machine for applying cream or the liketo biscuits comprising a cylinder or drum mounted to rotate upon a hori zontal axis and having a peripheralseries of stencil apertures adapted to be filled withcream delivered-into thedrum throughan end thereof, an

endless'travelling band or web a lap of which engages the exterior surface of the cylinder to receive layers of cream from the apertures and convey them to a depositing positio n where they are transferred to travelling biscuits; The travellinglayer receiving surface may comprise .an endless band having. a drumengaging lap extending around a substantial portion of the drum surface.

The return lap ofthe bandmay comprise a part located beneath the drum and moving in a rectilinear path, thecream layers being stripped from such part for deposit'upon the biscuits travelling beneath said part. l l

The travelling layer receiving surface may com.

prise a band or web of paper or other suitable material drawn from a spool.

' zontal plane.

In the accompanying diagrammatic drawings! Figure l is a front elevation of a machine according to the invention. j

Figure 2 is a corresponding plan. Figure 3 isan end elevation, while Figure 4 is a' sectional elevation. In carrying the inventioninto efiect according toone convenient mode, a drum or cylinder is mounted for rotation upon a horizontal axis. One end" H) of the drum is'closed while theotherend is-open at the central portion but is provided with aninwardly directed flange H. I The drum is supportedby the end wall it upon a fitted stub shaft I2 by means of a sleevemember l3'ywhich is formed integrally with a bevel wheel .lkmeshingwith a bevelwheel l5 fixedupon a The endless band element 20 passes around a pair of jockey or guide rolls 2!,

22 which are located to one side of the drum and are spaced apart vertically so that a'portion of the cylindrical surface is left exposed. The noneng'aging portion-or return lapof the endless band passes around two further jockey rolls 23, SM which are located on the opposite side ofthe drum. At the lower part the return lap'of the bandpasses through a rectilinear-path extending between lower jockey rolls 22 and 23, such rectilinear path preferably-being located in a hori- The endless band 20-n1ay be formed of any suitable material such as thin steel, or it may be of any other flexible material such as rawhide,

The jockey roll 2| is mounted upon a-lever or arm iZE whichis' I pivoted upon a stubshaftffi whereby it is adjustable for the purpose of tightening the band, the lever being retained in its adjusted position by a nut 21.

The jockey rolls 22, 23 and 24 are mounted to" rotate upon stub shafts carried by the framework l'l.

Located within the drum upon a bracket 28 fixed upon the stub shaft I2 is an arm 29 carrying a bar 30 to which a scraper or strickling device 3I is secured. The scraper engages the inner surface of the drum and extends fully across the drum and engages the wall ll] andthe flange H. The scraping edge of the strickler engages l the surface of the drum adjacent the point where the endless band 20 leaves the drum and passes around the lower jockey roll 22.

A cleaning device is mounted in association with the endless band where it passes around the upper jockey roll 2| and such may comprise a blade moved therefrom is deposited in a tray 36 10- cated below the scrapers.

Associated with the lower surface of therectilinear portion of the endless band between the jockey rolls 22 and 24 is a cut-off device comprisinga transverse wire 37 which is carried by a pivotally mounted yoke piece 38 having an arm 39 the end of which lies between a pair of springs 40, M on a control rod l2. The springs are adapted to be adjusted to obtain the desired resilient pressure of the wire against the band 20. The control rod 42 is coupled to a lever arm 43 by which the wire 31 may be moved to and from the operative position. The lever arm 39 moves between adjustable stops 44, 45 which limit the movement of the wire 31 in either direction. The mounting for the wire may be such that the wire may be adjusted longitudinally ofthe band and thus adjust the point at which the layers of cream are stripped from the band.

Cream, or other material which is tobe supplied to the biscuits, is delivered from a suitable hopper or supply into the drum by means of a pipe 45 projecting through the central side opening.

The machine is mounted above a suitable travelling device upon which the biscuits are carried so that they travel parallel to the rectilinear lap of the band, the speed of travel of the biscuits and the band 20 being synchronised.

In operation, the drum is rotated andby it the endless band 20 is caused to travel, by its frictional engagement with the drum, in the direction of the arrow, Figure 1, so that the band will leave the drum adjacent the jockey roll 22 and then return on the lower rectilinear lap in a direction opposite to .the direction of rotation of the drum. The cream located in the bottom of the drum is adapted to be spread across the drum so that it will fill the stencil apertures as they pass beneath the cream. Further movement of the drum brings the apertures (filled with cream) to the strickler device where the excess cream is strickled off so that the layer of cream in the stencil apertures will contain the correctthickness.

As the band separates from the drum adjacent the lower jockey roll 22 the layers or stencils of cream a: will adhere thereto and thus be drawn out of the stencil apertures of the drum. The band by its travel will convey the layers over the lower jockey roll 22 and along the return lap of the band so that they reach an inverted position. While passing through the rectilinear lap of the band the wire cut-off 3'2 strips the layers from the band and deposits them on the travelling biscuits 2/.

The drum may be angularly adjustable relatively to the sleeve 13. or the biscuit conveyor may be advanced or retarded in order to adjust the stencil aperture l9 to the biscuits.

The biscuits may be conveyed on travelling platform devices 4'! adapted to be raised to receive the layers of cream, or the path through which the biscuits travel may be appropriately adjacent the path of the conveyor band so that vertical movement of the biscuits is unnecessary.

When it is desired to apply layers of a different shape or size, the drum'is removed from the sleeve member #3 and another drum having the appropriate size and shape of aperture substituted.

Instead of depending upon the friction between the band 20, and the drum, a positive drive may be imparted to the band from the drum or othermeans synchronised therewith. Moreover the belt may be driven and impart rotation to the drum either through friction or positively.

According to a modification the upper jockey rolls 2i and 23 may be dispensed with and the band be supported by two rolls such as 22 and 2 3 in which casejthe layer receiving lap of the band will only engage the lower part of the drum. According to a further arrangement, instead of receiving the cream layers upon an endless band, they may be received from the cylinder' or drum upon a travelling paper or similar web which is drawn from a spool or supply. The spool is mounted in a position and a guide roll is provided such that the paper web is lapped against the lower peripheral surface of the. drum. The web passes over the guide roll and along a rectilinear path in contact witha suitable guiding plate Where the layers of cream are stripped by means of a wire cut-off. The travel of the web may be elfected by pairs of feed rolls'arranged adjacent the edges of the Web, or a draw off spiral may be provided for the purpose.

We claim:

A machine for applying layers of cream or the like to biscuits, comprising a drum mounted to rotate about a horizontal axis, said drum-having a. peripheral series of stencil apertures, means for delivering cream into the drum through an end thereof to flow into said apertures, a scraper engaging thev inner wall of said drum and operative to remove excessive cream from said apertures, an'endless travelling band, supporting and guiding means therefor arranged to hold a lapthereon in engagement with a substantial arcuate extent of the lower exterior surfaceof the drum constituting with said drum a hopper for the cream, said band operative also to close said apertures to receive stenciled layers of cream therefrom, and convey said layers to: a position where they are transferred to travelling biscuits.

ROBERT FRENCH MACFARLANE. 'WILLIAM EDWARD PRESCOTT. 

